Epilogue
FOUR YEARS LATER
When I was thirteen years old, I saw Raiden for the first time. Back then, I never knew what he would mean to me. He was a twirling mess, showing off for the world and not caring what anyone thought about him.
He was beautiful then, but over the years I’ve learned he’s more than that.
He’s sassy. He’s charismatic. He’s a beautiful (and sexy) dancer. He’s compassionate. He’s lovely. He’s everything I could have ever dreamed for, but nothing came close to truly having him.
And there’s so many words that I could say to describe him, but it will never be enough. There are so many things that he is that I could sit here, in front of all of our family and friends, and recite everything I’ve come to love about Raiden.
I love that he’s not a morning person and how no amount of negotiating will get him out of bed if he doesn’t want to get out. If you try to get him out before he’s ready… it’ll make your whole day hell. It’s easier to let him sleep in and never book anything for first thing in the morning.
I love that after a long day of dance, he’s never too tired to sit with me while I make dinner.
He’ll sit on the bar stool chair and watch me, asking me about the dishes I’m making or offer to help chop vegetables.
He’ll tell me about his day and show me his dance moves while he asks me to tap a steady beat against the counter with my hand.
I love that he never makes me doubt his love for me. Whether it be making me soup when I’m sick or pulling me closer while he sleeps. He reminds me everyday that this is the life he chose and the life he is happy with. He’s happy with me. I’m not sure what I did to deserve him.
He’s fixed all the parts of me that were broken, but he did more than put me back together. He made sure my edges were smooth and incapable of hurting me anymore.
He puts salve on the end of my leg every night and he prepares my coffee just the way I like it every morning when he wakes up. There’s nothing he wouldn’t do for me. And I for him.
Now, as I stand at the end of the aisle, with our friends and family sitting in their seats and watching me wait for the love of my life, I realize something important.
Life is not about the destination. It’s not about the goals you reach. It’s not a wedding, or a house, or whatever else bullshit people try to sell.
It’s the journey, having someone by your side through all the ups and the downs and for the both of you to come out on top.
No matter what the goal is or the end-game, none of that matters without the rest of it.
A promotion is only good if you can see how hard you worked to get it.
Buying a house is great because you saw potential to make it a home when no one else had the same vision.
I reminisce on all the times that brought us here. The heartbreak, the longing, the intense pining. None of it is a regret because without it we never would have made it here. Our pain made us stronger. Our pain held us together while the rest of the world tried to break us apart.
Sophia comes down the aisle, holding onto Connor and Hollis. Sophia is dressed in a flowy, light green gown. Her dark brown hair, streaked with chunky blue highlights is pulled back into a nice braid, showing off her delicate features and helping the sunset reflect off her sun-kissed skin.
Connor and Hollis are wearing matching suits, a light grey ensemble that they picked out together.
The dweebs, but I have to admit they look good.
I’m glad they went with light grey though, because with the amount of sweat pouring down my back and gathering in places where the sun don’t shine, it would have been embarrassing to look like a water hose doused me on my wedding day.
My suit is a classic dark grey, with a white undershirt with the top three buttons undone, showing off a hint of my chest. That was Raiden’s request.
Damon and Matteo walk down the aisle next, both of them taking their jobs as ring security seriously. They’ve grown a lot over the past four years, their friendship blossoming into something that reminds me of Raiden and mine when we were younger. Two peas in an inseparable pod.
The music changes–the soft beginning of Tiny Dancer playing and filling the field of daisies on each side of us.
It took forever for the flowers to bloom and fully cover the space the way I dreamed of for our wedding day, but with meticulous planning and lots of internal cussing out the seeds for not working the way I wanted them to, it all worked out.
When I proposed to Raiden in this same field last year, I held his hand and promised him the world, as long as he said yes to being my husband.
Today, I’m cashing in on that arrangement.
My dad walks around the corner of the building, his light hair with streaks of grey in it is neatly slicked back.
The suit he’s wearing is similar to Connor and Hollis.
Secured in my dad’s hand is the lead for our fur baby.
And calling him a fur baby is a gross misstep on my part, since he’s as tall as Raiden is when he stands on his back legs.
When Raiden finally convinced me (not like it was hard) to adopt a dog with him, we went that same day to the shelter.
It was hard, walking past all the animals who needed a home.
I was sure we would end up walking out with more than one.
But Raiden’s only request was we take home the oldest one, or the one who has been there the longest.
That’s how we ended up with Bean, the 155 pound lap dog who likes to take up our whole bed, even though we’ve upgraded the size of it.
Twice. He was a surrender because the owner didn’t want to take care of him and was just plain lazy.
When we took Bean home with us, he had been in the shelter for three years, seven months, and twenty three days.
Waiting for someone to pick him. To choose him.
To love him. And me and Raiden were the perfect people for the job.
Bean has been our best friend and our favorite travel buddy for the past four years, and I can’t wait to continue making memories with them.
But Bean is huge—a Great Dane mixed with something else, so he sheds a lot and eats a lot, but he’s a lovable mess and the perfect addition to our family.
He’s been by our side while we work in the backyard, plays fetch in the front yard at my parents’, and go on long drives to check off places on our bucket list.
The doors to the barndominium that I built swing open, the dark hardwood revealing a smiling Raiden walking down with his mom and dad.
Ema is dressed beautifully, in the same dress and color as my mom sitting in the front row.
His dad is in a fancy three piece suit, the tie donning his neck is the same color as Raiden’s suit.
But Raiden is the star of the show. He has a crown of fresh daisies sitting on top of his hair, the dark brown strands blowing gently in the breeze. His suit is a soft pink color, the same dusty pink shade as the lingerie he wore for my birthday, the first one we celebrated together as a couple.
He’s walking towards me, every step calculated as him and his mom walk down the makeshift cobblestone aisle to our song. My heart stops beating in my chest as my gaze locks on Raiden’s. His brown eyes are accentuated by the purple eyeshadow he chose today, with hints of pink to match his suit.
“Hi,” Raiden whispers, stopping in front of me and extending his palm to mine. On his ring finger is the engagement band I bought for him. A silver band with my birth stone in place of a diamond.
“Hi, tiny dancer.” I can barely see him as the tears I’ve tried to hold back gather on my lower lash fine, fighting to escape.
Raiden reaches up, wiping them away with his hand, before tucking his hand back into mine. Where it belongs. For the rest of our lives.
Ace clears his throat, holding his black book in front of him, prepared to officiate our wedding.
Raiden and I both turn our heads to face him as he starts.
“Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to witness the joining of Raiden and Jericho…” His voice is drowned out by the heavy feeling of Raiden’s palm in mine, as we pledge our lives together.
Weathering the storm was the greatest thing I’ve ever done. With Raiden by my side.